The Clift

Overview & Key Facts

The Clift is a 312-unit condominium located at 21 McCallum Street in District 2, in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District. Developed by Far East Organization and completed in 2011, this 42-storey tower was designed with interiors by the acclaimed Japanese interior design firm Super Potato, known for their hospitality and luxury residential projects. The Clift is Far East Organization’s second high-profile residential development in the CBD, following the earlier Icon at Tanjong Pagar.

At an average transacted price of approximately $1,985 psf, The Clift occupies an interesting niche in the CBD residential market — a 42-storey tower with boutique-hotel design sensibilities, convenient MRT access, and a rental yield of approximately 4.5% that ranks among the highest in the central area. The development is known for its compact, efficiently designed units that appeal primarily to investors and young professionals seeking a CBD address, rather than families requiring larger living spaces.

The buyer profile reflects this investor orientation: 57.8% Singaporean, 13.9% PR, 24.8% foreign, and 3.4% corporate buyers. With approximately 81 years remaining on the 99-year lease from 2008, The Clift provides a comfortable tenure runway while delivering the income-generating potential that CBD residential investments are known for. The surrounding Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood has undergone significant transformation with the completion of Guoco Tower and the ongoing development of the Greater Southern Waterfront, positioning The Clift within one of Singapore’s most dynamic urban regeneration zones.

Location & Connectivity

The Clift enjoys excellent MRT connectivity, with Tanjong Pagar MRT station (EW15) on the East-West Line approximately 300 m away — a 4-minute walk. Telok Ayer MRT (DT18) on the Downtown Line is also within a 5-minute walk, providing dual-line access. This two-station connectivity places The Clift within a 10-minute MRT ride of virtually every major commercial hub in Singapore — Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Orchard, and Bayfront are all directly accessible without transfers.

Daily amenities are plentiful. Guoco Tower’s retail podium provides shopping and dining directly at Tanjong Pagar MRT. The surrounding conservation shophouse districts host hundreds of restaurants, cafes, and bars — from Amoy Street Food Centre (one of the CBD’s best hawker centres) to specialty coffee shops and award-winning restaurants along Telok Ayer and Club Street. Maxwell Food Centre, another renowned hawker hub, is a 10-minute walk away. For grocery shopping, FairPrice Finest at Guoco Tower and Cold Storage at 100AM serve the CBD residential community.

The CBD location means The Clift is primarily a working professionals’ address rather than a family-oriented neighbourhood. Schools are limited in the immediate vicinity, though the proximity to the MRT makes the broader school network accessible. The historic Thian Hock Keng Temple, Ann Siang Hill, and the Pinnacle@Duxton skybridge are nearby cultural and recreational landmarks that add character to the Tanjong Pagar precinct.

Schools & Education

Facilities

The Clift delivers a facility set scaled to its 312-unit CBD tower format. The highlight is the sky park and infinity pool on the upper floors, providing panoramic views over the CBD skyline and toward the sea — a dramatic amenity that leverages the 42-storey elevation. The development also features a lap pool on a mid-level sky terrace, a gymnasium, a jacuzzi, and a concierge service that adds a hospitality touch to the residential experience. 24-hour security, CCTV surveillance, and access-controlled lifts provide standard urban security.

“The sky park is the standout feature. The views from the upper-floor pool deck are spectacular — you can see the entire CBD skyline, the port, and on clear evenings the sunset over Sentosa. The concierge service is a nice touch that adds a hotel-like quality to daily life. The gym is adequate for basic workouts, though the equipment could be better maintained. For a CBD tower, the facilities are respectable.”

— Owner-occupier, 1-bedroom unit (SingaporeExpats review)

Resident reviews have been mixed regarding facility maintenance. Some owners have reported issues with pool water temperature, jacuzzi maintenance, and gym equipment quality — concerns that suggest the MCST may need to invest more aggressively in facility upkeep to match the premium positioning of the development. The Super Potato interior design aesthetic remains a distinctive feature in the common areas, but the contrast between the original design vision and current maintenance standards has drawn commentary. For investors whose tenants primarily value location over facilities, these concerns may be secondary; for owner-occupiers, the maintenance track record warrants investigation during the purchase process.

Unit Sizes & Layout

The Clift offers 312 units across the 42-storey tower, with a unit mix heavily weighted toward compact configurations. Studio and one-bedroom units dominate the mix, with typical sizes ranging from approximately 420 to 700 sqft. Two-bedroom units are available in more limited quantities, generally in the 800–1,100 sqft range. The compact sizing is deliberate — The Clift was designed as a CBD investment and pied-à-terre product, targeting rental income generation rather than family accommodation.

The Super Potato-designed interiors bring a distinctive Japanese-influenced aesthetic to the units — clean lines, quality materials, and thoughtful space planning that maximise the compact floor areas. The 42-storey elevation means that higher-floor units enjoy genuinely impressive CBD and sea views, and the tower’s slender profile ensures good natural light and ventilation across most stacks. The compact layouts are efficient but leave little room for personalisation or family living — these are essentially urban apartments designed for singles, couples, or tenants who work in the CBD and treat the unit as a convenient base rather than a spacious home.

Pricing & Market Position

Across 71 recorded transactions (all-time), sale prices range from $900,000 to $1,675,000, averaging $1,178,474.

Over the last 12 months, transactions averaged $1,963 psf.

Rents range from $2,500 to $7,800 per month across 1,090 rental transactions. Current rental yield sits at approximately 5.0%.

Rental Yield by Bedroom Type

Blended yield hides the spread between unit sizes — smaller units at THE CLIFT typically rent harder per dollar of purchase price:

Price Appreciation

From 2021 to 2026, the average PSF has declined by 9.3% (from $1,959 to $1,778 psf).

Neighbourhood Comparison

The Clift ($1,985 psf, 312 units, 99-year from 2008, ~81 years remaining) competes in the CBD compact-unit investment segment. Icon ($1,800–$2,200 psf, 646 units, 99-year from 2005) is Far East Organization’s earlier CBD project at Tanjong Pagar — larger, similarly positioned, but with a shorter remaining lease. The two developments share the same Tanjong Pagar MRT proximity and CBD rental demand pool, with Icon offering more unit variety and The Clift delivering the Super Potato design edge.

Altez ($2,000–$2,500 psf, 280 units, 99-year from 2010) at Enggor Street is a direct competitor in the same micro-neighbourhood — newer, with more contemporary facilities, but at a PSF premium. Wallich Residence ($2,500–$3,500 psf, 181 units, 99-year from 2013) at Guoco Tower is the luxury tier — integrated with the retail podium and Sofitel hotel, but at a significantly higher quantum. For pure yield at an accessible entry point, The Clift offers the best combination of low quantum, high yield, and established rental track record in the Tanjong Pagar CBD cluster.

Lease Decay Analysis

The 99-year lease runs from 2004, meaning approximately 22 years have already been consumed. Roughly 77 years remain — still comfortably within the range where most banks will offer full financing without restrictions.

For a buyer purchasing today with a 10-year horizon (exit around 2036), the lease situation is essentially a non-issue — you’d be selling a property with ~67 years remaining, which is still very bankable. The risk profile changes for longer holds.

ShiokNest Scores

Our proprietary scoring system evaluates THE CLIFT across multiple dimensions.

What Residents Say

“I bought a one-bedroom at The Clift as a rental investment and it has delivered consistently. The CBD location means there is never a shortage of tenants — banking professionals, lawyers, tech workers, all want to live within walking distance of the office. The yield has been between 4 and 5 percent since I bought, which is strong for a CBD address. The unit is compact but the Super Potato design makes the most of every square foot.”

— Investor-owner, 1-bedroom unit (EdgeProp review)

“The location is unbeatable for someone who works in the CBD. I walk to the office in 10 minutes, have hundreds of restaurants at my doorstep, and Tanjong Pagar MRT is a 4-minute walk for anywhere else. The sky park views are stunning for entertaining. The facilities could be better maintained — the pool temperature has been inconsistent and the gym needs updating — but for a pied-à-terre, the convenience factor outweighs the facility concerns.”

— Owner-occupier, studio unit (99.co review)

“I have been renting at The Clift for two years and the Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood is fantastic. The conservation shophouses along Telok Ayer and Amoy Street have incredible restaurants and bars. Amoy Street Food Centre is my daily lunch spot. The unit is small but well laid out, and the view from the 30th floor is amazing. The concierge is helpful and the security is good. My only gripe is that the development could use more investment in maintaining the shared facilities.”

— Tenant, 1-bedroom unit (PropertyGuru review)

Strengths & Weaknesses

Verdict

The Clift is one of the CBD’s most effective rental-yield vehicles — a 42-storey tower with Super Potato design, dual MRT access, and a 4.5% rental yield that consistently ranks among the highest in the central area. At approximately $1,985 psf, the entry quantum for a studio or one-bedroom is accessible compared to newer CBD launches, and the surrounding Tanjong Pagar transformation (Guoco Tower, Greater Southern Waterfront) provides a compelling urban regeneration narrative that supports long-term demand for CBD residential addresses.

The development works best as a rental investment or pied-à-terre for CBD professionals. The compact unit sizes are not designed for family living, and the facility maintenance track record, while improving, has drawn mixed reviews that owner-occupiers should investigate. The 81 years remaining on the lease is adequate for the current cycle but will become a consideration for future buyers as the lease dips below 75 years in approximately a decade — a timeline that investors should factor into their exit planning.

For yield-focused investors seeking a CBD address with strong rental demand, good MRT connectivity, and the Tanjong Pagar regeneration tailwind, The Clift delivers a proposition that is hard to replicate at this price point. For owner-occupiers or families, the compact sizing and maintenance concerns make it a less compelling primary-residence choice. The Greater Southern Waterfront masterplan, which will transform the port and waterfront areas surrounding Tanjong Pagar over the next 20–30 years, represents the long-term upside catalyst — though the timeline is generational rather than immediate.